Thursday, March 28, 2024

Englers proposal source of problem

I was disgusted by your recent editorial (“Our Voice,” SN 5/16). The tuition guarantee set up by MSU President M. Peter McPherson in 1994 has been a stunning success. Since that time, tuition increases have stayed at the rate of inflation. This has allowed Michigan families the ability to budget for their children’s higher education dreams. However, The State News wants to abandon this extremely worthy and popular guarantee.

Instead of calling on Gov. John Engler to raise state funding, The State News invites students to accept the premise that additional funding is a thing of the past. I understand the state budget may be in trouble, but shouldn’t education be a top priority for the governor? The Republican-controlled state House and Senate have recognized and proposed substantial funding increases. The House proposes a 7 percent increase and the Senate calls for a 6 percent increase for MSU.

However, our beloved governor calls for nothing. That’s right! Engler proposes a 0 percent increase for Michigan’s three major research institutions. This is a travesty! Why does The State News condone such actions? It seems to me that Engler wants higher education in the hands of a few, the elite. Michigan working families may not be able to send their kids to college with a tuition increase of 7 to 10 percent. The governor and The State News seem to accept this premise; that higher education should be for the rich. I find this very disturbing.

However, the future looks bright as we head to 2002. Engler will not be up for re-election. The Democratic slate of former Gov. James Blanchard, Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, and U.S. Rep. David Bonior, D-Mount Clemens, offer hope. My personal choice is Bonior. Throughout his 26 years in Congress, Bonior has fought for educational issues with courage and conviction. There is no reason to believe his attitude would change if he is elected governor. It is time for Michigan to elect a governor who cares about higher education. That person is Bonior.

The State News should follow my lead and call on Engler to increase funding for MSU, not at the expense of the tuition guarantee.

William R. Surheinrich
international relations junior

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